lynch



No. 6l7,l|0. Patented Jan. 3, I899.

M. A. LYNCH.

BREEGH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1895. Renewed May 13, 1897.) I (No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet l.

m: Noam; PETERS ca. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, n. c.

Patented Jan. 3, I899.

M. A. LYNCH.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

(Application filed Feb. 16, 1895. Renewed May 13, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Il q Patented Jan. 3, I899. m. A. LYNCH.

BREEGH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANGE.

(Applicatioxi filed Feb. 1-6, 1895. Renewed May 13, 1897.\

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

liy-

(NB Model) ZU z'Zmsses;

. IINTTEE STATES PATENT CEETCE.

MICHAEL A. LYNCH, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JAMES J. SIIEEIIY, A. A. THOMAS, AND E. J. TURNER, OF SAME PLACE.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR ORDNANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,1 10, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed February 16,1895. Renewed May 13, 1897. Serial No. 636,410. (No model.)

T all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL A. L'YNcH, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breecl1-Loading Guns; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willen-v able others skilled in the art to which it apro pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in breech-loading guns, and it is equally applicable for service in light-weight field-cannon or in hand-firearms to be fired from the I5 shoulder.

Among other things the invention has for its objects to securelylock the breech-plug in position in the breech of the gun and enable it to be quickly unlocked and removed therefrom by a short turn of a lever; to automatically set or cook the firing-pin as the breechplug is released from the breech for the insertion of the cartridge or charge; to automatically retract the shell of the exploded 5 cartridge and throw the shell from the gun on the outward movement of-the breech-plug; to give a slight forward movement to the plug during its rising movement, so as to force the charge or cartridge home; to provide against accidental discharge of the gun, and to simplify the construction of parts with a view to promoting efficiency and rapidity of operation in loading and firing the gun and enable the operations of retracting the breechplug, removing the exploded cartridge, and

setting or cooking of the firearm to be accomplished by a short movement of a lever.

W'ith these ends in view my invention consists in the combinations of devices and pe- 4 culiar construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a breech-loading gun embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the breech of the gun, showing the breech-plug closed and locked within the breech. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but with the breech-plug retracted and in position for the insertion of a cartridge into the breech of the gun. Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse sectional view through the breech and the breech-plug on the plane indicated by the line 50 a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the breech-plug detached from the gun. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the operating handle or lever and illustrating the means for locking the same in place. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the locking-plate with which the locking device of the lower handle is adapted for engagement, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the extractor removed.

Like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which A designates the breech of a breech-loading cannon of small caliber and which is especially adapted as light artillery for field service.

I have illustrated my improvements as adapted for use in a breech-loading cannon of the class referred to and will describe the improvements in connection with a gun of this class; but I would have it distinctly understood that I do not restrict myself to the use of the improved device in guns of this class,as the device can be applied with equally advantageous and ,desirable effects in a firearm adapted to be fired from the shoulder, the several parts being of course constructed and proportioned with special reference to the relation in which they are designed to operate.

In a gun of small caliber it is desirable to have as compact and rapidly operating breech mechanism as possible, and I resort to a vertically-movable breech-plug of peculiar form, which is adapted to fit tightly and securely in the breech when it is elevated and locked therein. The breech-plug B (shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings) is substantially rectangular or oblong in form, with an arched or curved upper end,-and in the sides and top of the breech-plug are ribs or flanges b, separated by intervening grooves b, which parts are arranged in the regular seq uence or order, as illustrated.

In the breech A of the gun I form or pro of the plug within the breech. The inner face 0 of the plug is straight or has its face relatively at right angles to the bore of the gun and the face d of the breech, while the ribs and grooves in the plug and breech are inclined, so that when the plug has been caused to move downwardly in the breech said plug will simultaneously be given a slight rearward movement, so as to allow the extractor to operate in starting the shell and extract the same during the entire downward movement of the plug. By this construction it will also be seen that when a new charge or cartridge has been inserted and the lever moved to raise the plug such plug by reason of the inclined grooves in the wall thereof and the similar grooves in the breech will be given a simultaneous movement forward, so as to force the shell or charge home. In the plug I provide a vertical longitudinal recess or chamber E, and in the sides of the plug are formed vertical longitudinal slots F, which open into or communicate with the recess or chamber E. Through this recess or chamber and through the slots passes a horizontal shaft G, which is journaled near its ends in bearings g in the breech A, and one end of this shaft is locked in place by a rivet or key g, while the other end of the shaft carries an operating handle or lever, presently to be described.

An operating pinion or gear H is arranged within the chamber or recess in the breechplug, and this gear or pinion has its hub 71 formed with two internal grooves or ways h to receive the keys or splines h which are rigid with the operating-shaft, whereby the pinion is made rigid with the shaft and it is caused to turn or rock with the same. The teeth on the periphery of this pinion or gear mesh at all times with the teeth on a rack 1, formed on or secured into the inner face or wall of the chamber or recess E in the breechplug, and as the shaft is rotated or turned a quarter-turn the pinion or gear operates the rack to move the breech-plug vertically, either up or down, according to the direction the shaft is turned, thus lowering the breechplug far enough in the breech to enable the insertion of a cartridge above the plug, as indicated in Fig. 3, or to lift the breech-plug and tightly seat or look the plug in the breech and shove the shell home. This gear segment or pinion H has a cam-face 14, adapted to impinge against the setting-lever 11, so as to move the same in withdrawing the firing-pin,

and said segment also has a cam-face Z, which is designed to impinge against the extractorlever 15 below its pivotal point, so that as the plug is descending in the breech the extractor-lever will be brought into operation simultaneously therewith and the exploded .charge or shell thrown out of the gun.

A horizontal passage or bore 2' is formed in the breech-plug at a suitable distance above the recess or chamber therein, and in this passage is fitted an endwise-movable firingpin 1, which is free to move or slide in the passage in the plug. This pin is cushioned by a coiled or spiral spring j, which bears against a collar or shoulder j thereon and against a nut J, which nut is threaded on its periphery or edge and is screwed into the internally-threaded rear portion or wall of the enlargement j of the passage.

In some cases the outer end of the firing pin is provided with a removable eye, which is secured to the pin by a screw-thread connection and may be large enough to receive a finger of the operator, although any suitable means may be provided to permit of a second firing, which is sometimes necessary; and it is obvious that the firing-pin in the present construction may be operated without effecting the operation or movement of the plug or extractor. The firing-pin is also provided with a shoulder 1 (one or more) on its lower side, and with this notch or shoulder is adapted to engage a reciprocating sear 2, which sear. operates vertically in a vertical recess 3 in the breech-plug and through a hole or passage 4 in the removable nut or washer J, so that the sear also serves to retain the nut or washer in position and to prevent the same from being jarred out of the breechplug by the concussion on the explosion of the cartridge. The sear has an enlargement or shoulder 5, against which operates a coiled cushion sprin g 6,that normally impels the sear into such position that it takes into the notch or shoulder of the firing-pin as the same is retracted, and said enlargement or shoulder has an aperture or slot 7 therein, in which slot takes the toe of a trigger 8, which is arranged exteriorly on the breech-plug, so as to be readily accessible, and is pivoted on a horizontal pivot or shaft 9, supported between lugs 10, rigid with the breech-plug.

The firing-pin is adapted to extend or project from the front of the breech-plug when the latter is elevated and locked in place in A setting of the firing-pin I accomplish by means of the upright arm or lever 11, ar-

ranged within the chamber or recess E in the breech-plug, and the upper end of this setting-lever 11 is fitted in a slot or recess 12 in the lower side of the firing-pin, while the lower end of said lever is pivoted on a horizontal shaft or bolt 13 to the breech-plug, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lever is free to move or play with the firing-pin when the latter is released from the sear by the operation of the trigger; but the setting-lever is operated quickly to retract the firing-pin from engagement with the exploded shell by the movement of the gear segment or pinion on the operating-shaft, which gear-segment has a cam-face 14, that is adapted to impinge against the lever. lVhen the gun is fired, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2; but as soon as the handle and shaft are turned .the cam-surface 14 on the gear-segment operates on the setting-lever to force the same rearward, and there by retract the firing-pin before the breech-plug is unseated in the breech, and the further movement of the shaft and gear-segment operates to lower the breech-plug and to extract the cartridge, as will be more fully pointed out presently. As the firing-pin is retracted the sear is impelled into the notch or shoulder in the pin to hold the latter in this position while the breechplug is being lowered and again raised and locked in the breech to adapt the gun to be fired, which is accomplished by pulling the trigger to release the sear from the firing-pin, whereupon the reaction of the spiral spring impels the firing-pin forward with sufficient force to explode the cartridge against which the pin strikes.

The cartridge -shell is automatically extracted from the breech as the plug is lowered by means of an extractor lever or arm 15, which lever is arranged in a vertical recess in the breech and has its upper end notched or adapted for engagement with the head of a cartridge on its insertion into the bore of the gun. The lower end of the extractor-lever is arranged in the path of the cam Z on the gear segment or pinion, so that as the latter is turned to lower the breech-plug sufficiently for the extraction of the cartridge the extractor-lever is operated to throw its upper end rearward, and thereby remove the cartridge from the bore of the gun and facilitate its removal from the breech. The extractor-lever operates automatically as the breech-plug is lowered, and as the cartridge is forced home into the bore and the breechplug raised into position and locked in the breech the extractor-lever is automatically reset to perform its duties, when the gun is discharged and the breech-plug again lowcharge. This extractor-lever, as better shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, is preferably made of spring-steel, and while its main portion is made stout, so as to resist the'usual strain, the upper end, which is forked to receive the shell, has its branches reduced and springtempered, so that when the plug has been drawn down to clear the bore of the gun these branches, taking over the head of the old shell, having been sprung slightly forward by the upward movement of the plug while the concentric part of the gear was in engagement with the lower end of the'lever, will be given a-spring movement rearward and thereby start the removal of the empty shell.

I The horizontal shaft, which passes through the vertical slots in the sides of the breechplug, serves as the means for limiting the downward movement of the plug as well as the upward movement of the same, and it also operates to prevent the withdrawal of the plug from the breech.

In the upper part of the breech I form a vertical slot 16, which enables the attendant to thrust the hand into the breech to insert or assist in properly adjusting the shell.

In the upper side of the plug I form a recess 17, in which the cartridge may be placed as it is adjusted or being forced into the gun, and the plug at the inner end of this recess 17 is chamfered out on an incline, as shown at 17, so as to afford an early starting of the shell from the breech and allow greater throw to the extractor-lever.

To prevent the gear-pinion and the breechplug from movement owing to the jar and concussion produced by the explosion of the cartridge, I provide mechanism for locking the shaft against movement as well as for conveniently manipulating the shaft. The handle or lever 20 is provided with a head or enlargement 21 at one end,in which are formed the grooves that receive the keys or feathers 22 to rigidly key or secure the handle or lever to said shaft. This handle or lever is made in sections or parts, of which the inner part has the enlargement or head 21, and the hollow tubular part 23 of said handle is screwed to a shank 23 of the head or enlargement, so as to be readily removable therefrom. In the hollow part 23 of the handle or lever operates the locking rod or detent 25, which is free to slide in said handle, and the inner end of this detent or rod has a toe 26, which extends at right angles to the rod or detent and operates freely in the slot or recess formed in the inner side of the enlargement or head of the lever. The outer end of this rod or detent plays in the aperture formed in the hollow part of the handle or lever, and to said outer end is secured a milled head 27, by which the rod or detent can be conveniently lifted against the tension of an impelling-spring 28, which is coiled around said rod or detent and operates against a collar 29 on the rod and a solid part of the handle or lever. Then the breech-plug is raised and locked in place in the breech, the angular toe of the rod or detent takes into a notch or groove 30 in a plate 81, which is fixed laterally to the side of the breech A, and after the gun has been discharged and it is desirable to lower the breech-plug the rod or detent is lifted against the tension of its spring to Withdraw the angular toe from the notch or groove in the fixed plate, after which the lever or handle can be operated to lower and raise the breech-plug.

In order to insert the shaft G into its bearings in the breech, it is necessary that the opening g adjacent to the hand-lever should be sufficiently large to take in the splines h thereon, and in order that the shaft may be prevented from leaving its bearings should the nut on the opposite end he lost or removed I have provided this shaft G with an enlargement G and the plate 31 with a boss, as shown. Thus it will be seen that when the shaft has been seated in its hearings in the breech and the plate 31 secured in position, with its boss against the annular shoulder G, the shaft will be held from movement in either direction regardless of other securing devices.

In adapting my breech mechanism to a handfirearm to be discharged from the shoulder the parts should be properly proportioned and arranged for service in their new relations, and in such cases the trigger can be extended, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the hand-lever modified so as to be brought beneath the breech and guard the trigger.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be fully understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a spring-lever or one possessing resiliency for starting and extracting a shell, and a suitable means for moving said lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a vertically-recessed breech, of a verticallyslotted breech plug engaging with suitable flanges in the breech, a shaft passing through the slots in said plug, and a gear pinion or segment carried by the shaft and housed within the breech-plug, and geared thereto, substantially as described.

3. Inabreech-loadinggun,thecombination of a vertically-recessed breech, the breechplug engaging with suitable flanges in the breech to move or slide vertically therein and having the longitudinal chamber and the slots and also the rack, the shaft passing through the chamber and slots, and the gearsegment housed within said chamber and fixed to the shaft, said segment meshing with the rack on the interior of the chamber in said breech-plug, substantially as specified.

4. In abreech-loadinggun, the combination of the breecl1, and breech-plug, having the rack therein, a. shaft geared to said plug for moving the latter'vertically, a spring-pressed firingpin seated in the plug, the sear arranged to engage the firing-pin, as the latter is retracted, the trigger, the setting-arm pivoted to the breech-pl mg and connected to the firingpin, and a cam on the operating-shaft to operate the setting-arm, and retract the firingpin, substantially as described.

5. In a breech-loadin g gun, the combination of a breech, the breech-plug having the vertical rack and also the horizontal passage, the nut or plate screwed into said plug and having the vertical passage, the firing pin seated in the horizontal passage of the plug, the spring-pressed sear fitted in the breechplug and the vertical passage in the nut or washer, the pivoted trigger connected to the sear, the setting-lever also connected to the firing-pin, and mechanism for operating the breech-plug, comprising the toothed segment geared to said rack and having a cam for engaging the setting-lever so as to retract the firing-pin, substantially as described.

6. In a breech-loading gun the combination with the breech having a recess provided with vertically-oblique guides or Ways; of a vertically-movable breech-p111 g having corresponding flanges to engage in said Ways and also having a straight face between itself and the breech, said breech=plug also having slotted sides and an internal rack, an operating-shaft journaled in the breech and passing through the slots in the plug, and a toothed segment fixed to the shaft and adapted to engage the teeth of the plug and move the same, substantially as specified.

7. In a breech-loading gun the combination of a breech, a breech-plug, an extractor arm or lever fulcrumed on the breech and adapted for engagement with the cartridge, ashaft journaled in the breech and extending through the plug, a firing-pin arranged in the plug, a pivoted setting-arm for said pin and a double-faced cam arranged on the shaft with one face adapted to engage the settinglever, and the other face the extractor-arm, substantially as specified.

8. In abreech-loadinggun,the combination of a breech, a breech-plug, an operating-shaf t geared to said breech-plug, the grooved or recessed plate fixed to the breech, the hollow handle or lever fixed to the shaft, and the spring-seated rod or detent fitted in the hol-' low handle or lever and provided with the angular toe adapted to engage the recess in the fixed plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination with a gun; of a firingpin', a lever for setting the pin, a lever for ex-' lever for extracting a shell, substantially as specified.

10. A breech-loading gun having the following instrumentalities, in combinatiomviz: a vertically-slidable breech-plug, a firing-pin arranged in the plug, a lever pivoted in the plug for withdrawing or setting the pin, a lever pivoted in the breech for extracting a shell and a transverse shaft carrying means for engaging and drawing down the plug, drawing out the firing-pin, and moving the lever to extract a shell by a single movement and direct engagement with the parts, substantially as specified.

11. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a breech-plug which has a slightly-oblique up-and-down movement in the breech and which is provided with guidegrooves to engage corresponding grooves in the walls of the breech and further provided with a rack, a shell-extractor, and a gear for engaging the teeth of the rack on the plug for moving said plug and having a cam-surface for engaging the shell-extractor, substantially as specified.

12. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech-block which has a slightlyoblique up-and-down movement in the breech, and which is further provided with a transverse slot and a substantially vertical, internal rack, a firing-pin arranged in' the block, a pivoted lever for drawing back the firingpin, a lever pivoted in the breech for extracting a shell, and a gear-segment journaled on a transverse shaft which passes through the slot in the breech-block, said segment carrying teeth to engage the rack in the breechblock and a cam-face to engage and move the pin-setting lever, and another cam-face to engage and move the extractor-lever, substantially as specified.

13. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of abreech,a slidable breech-plug, a shellextractor and a shaft equipped with means for moving the slidable breech-plug and the shellextractor, substantially as specified.

11. A breech-loading gun having a transverse shaft journaled in the breech and carrying a hand-lever, and a gear for moving a breech-plug and operating an extractor and a firing-pin fixed on said transverse shaft, substantially as specified.

15. In a breech-loading gun, the combina tion of a breech, a slidable chambered breechplug, a pinion arranged within the chamber of the breech-plug and geared thereto, and a suitable means for rotating said pinion, substantially as specified.

16. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a slidable breech-plug having a rack, a shell-extractor and a gear for engaging the teethof the rack on the plug for moving said plug and having a cam-surface forengaging the shell-extractor, substantially as specified.

17. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a breech-plug, a firing-pin, a shell-extractor, a lever for setting the firing-pin, and a shaft equipped with means for moving the breech-plug, shell-extractor and setting-lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

lS. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a slidable breech-plug having a rack, a firing-pin, a shell-extractor, a lever for setting said firing-pin, and a gear for engaging the teethof the rack on the plug for moving said plug and having a cam-surface for engaging the shell-extractor and another cam-surface for engaging the settinglever, substantially as specified.

19. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a breech-plug, a firing-pin, a shell-extractor, a device for setting the firing-pin, and a shaft equipped with means for moving the breech-plug, shell-extractor and setting device, substantially as specified.

20. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a breech-plug having a rack, a pivoted extractorlever having one arm adapted to engage with the rim of a cartridgecase, and a partially-rotatable piece having a toothed are engaging directly with the rack on the plug and a cam-surface engaging di rectly with the free arm of the extractor-1e ver, substantially as specified.

21. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a breech-plug having a rack, a lever pivoted in a recess in the breech of the gun and having one arm adapted to engage with the rim of the cartridge-case, and a lever having a toothed are engaging directly with the rack on the plug and a cam-surface engaging directly with the free arm of the extractor-lever, substantially as specified.

22. In a breech-loading gun, the combination of a breech, a lever pivoted in arecess in the breech of the gun and having one arm adapted to engage with the rim of a cartridgecase, and a partially-rotatable cam for directly engaging the other arm of the lever, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL A. LYNCH. lVitnesses:

F. A. LINGER, M. COLE. 

